Three shot near Vanceboro; suspect wounded

Published: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 09:56 PM.

VANCEBORO — A Craven County man who was apparently agitated by tree trimming taking place in the area shot three people on Streets Ferry Road Tuesday afternoon, witnesses and emergency responders said.

An emergency responder at the scene identified the shooter as John Jenkins, who is the owner of Chip’s Camp Ground and is described as an elderly River Road resident.

The incident began around 4:40 p.m. when Jenkins confronted a crew working for Townsend Tree Service and then opened fire. Witnesses said he was driving a Toyota pickup, and sources said the gunman was armed with a handgun and a shotgun.

Two men from the tree crew were hit. One victim was shot twice in the face and another was shot in the stomach.

Sheriff's deputies gave chase to the gunman. When the gunman shot the third victim, identified by family members as Billy Dail, in the back, officers returned fire and wounded him.

Jenkins was airlifted from the scene shortly after an unnamed deputy reported by radio that the suspect was “down” and in custody.

One of the initial shooting victims was transported to the hospital by ambulance, one was transported by helicopter and another was taken from the scene in a personal vehicle.

VANCEBORO — A Craven County man who was apparently agitated by tree trimming taking place in the area shot three people on Streets Ferry Road Tuesday afternoon, witnesses and emergency responders said.

An emergency responder at the scene identified the shooter as John Jenkins, who is the owner of Chip’s Camp Ground and is described as an elderly River Road resident.

The incident began around 4:40 p.m. when Jenkins confronted a crew working for Townsend Tree Service and then opened fire. Witnesses said he was driving a Toyota pickup, and sources said the gunman was armed with a handgun and a shotgun.

Two men from the tree crew were hit. One victim was shot twice in the face and another was shot in the stomach.

Sheriff's deputies gave chase to the gunman. When the gunman shot the third victim, identified by family members as Billy Dail, in the back, officers returned fire and wounded him.

Jenkins was airlifted from the scene shortly after an unnamed deputy reported by radio that the suspect was “down” and in custody.

One of the initial shooting victims was transported to the hospital by ambulance, one was transported by helicopter and another was taken from the scene in a personal vehicle.

The names, conditions and hospital locations of the tree crew members were unavailable Tuesday. Dail was taken to CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern, but his condition was not available. Jenkins was transported to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, but his condition was not available.

For his part, Craven County Sheriff Jerry Monette declined to identify the gunman or the victims, but said all four people suffered serious injuries.

He also said the gunman may have been suffering from mental health issues.

The SBI is handling the officer-involved shooting, while the Craven County Sheriff’s Office is handling the other shootings.

Jenkins lives near the campground he owns near West Craven High School. The property once contained 15 to 20 mobile homes, but during Weyerhaeuser shutdowns over the past years, he and his wife, Julia Jenkins, converted the park to accommodate campers of construction workers.

Jenkins is believed to be in his mid to late 70s.

The area was closed to allow law enforcement to investigate. Nearby West Craven High School was locked down and football practice and a soccer match there were canceled.